Severn's Brewery

This brewery was built about 1835 in Rosedale Ravine just east of Yonge
Street. It Was two hundred feet long, forty feet wide, rose four stories high
including stock cellars and vaults, while the smaller malt house stood three
stories. In 1867 a fifteen horsepower steam engine was in use and twelve hands
were employed in manufacturing ale and porter. Some 6,000 to 7,000 gallons of
beer were produced each week. John Severn was not satisfied with the local
water for brewing so piped it in from Summerhill up Yonge Street, through
wooden pipes. Severn served as both Reeve and Councillor on the Yorkville
Council - the beer barrel on the Yorkville coat of arms commemorated his
service to the community.